Indiana woman arrested, accused of stealing purses at church services

A woman was arrested Friday accused of stealing purses from members at three churches Sunday morning in Boone County.

Jennifer Riley, 32, of Aurora, Ind., was charged with three counts of theft by unlawful taking.

Police say Riley took three purses from three different churches in Hebron, Florence and Burlington, Ky.

Riley is accused of approaching the churches and asking for money because she was behind on rent. When they did not provide her money, she left the purses from each location.

In one of the instances, Riley went into the Hebron Baptist Church at 3435 Limaburg Road and approached a church member as she wandered around the lobby. Riley identified herself as Jenifer Turner and told the woman (victim) she and her three children were in need of help as they were running away from an abusive husband/father.

While members of the church were gathering food and money for her, Riley allegedly grabbed the victim’s purse and left, the sheriff's office said.